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But both Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie were on the slate Thursday at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) - billed as the biggest annual gathering of American conservatives.

Cruz was in friendly territory.

The freshman senator - ranked by the right-wing Club for Growth's scorecard of members of Congress as the most conservative politician on Capitol Hill - was elected in 2010 on a wave of Tea Party support.

Christie, however, faced a grassroots skeptical of whether he's a true staunch conservative.

He's viewed by CPAC delegates as a RINO - a Republican in name only - who's too soft on social issues like gun rights and too friendly with President Barack Obama.

Still, both politicians have enough political ambition to be weighing a run for the White House in 2016, and both got a warm reception.

Cruz launched the conference with a warning on the dangers of compromise.

"You want to lose elections, stand for nothing," he said, rhyming off a series the election campaigns in 2006, 2008 and 2012, during which he maintains "Republicans stood for nothing and got walloped."

"The one election that was a tremendous election was in 2010, when Republicans drew a line in the sand."

It's become the Cruz brand - a refusal to compromise, especially on fiscal issues - that's frustrated establishment Republican colleagues but enamoured him to the fiscal conservative base.

Christie is an establishment favourite but struggling to contain "Bridgegate" - an unfolding scandal over bridge lane closures last fall, apparently orchestrated by top aides for political payback.

On Thursday, he pulled out all stops to woo the conservative grassroots, talking up his fiscal record, his pro-life stance and his ability to get elected as a Republican in a democrat state.

"When they said it could never be done, now twice, twice, for the first time since Roe vs. Wade, has New Jersey elected a pro-life governor," he said.

Thursday saw a slate of GOP 2016 hopefuls take the stage, including Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who received a standing ovation, to Rep. Paul Ryan and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal.